POD: Future in the Humanities EP 3/3 - The Gig Economy's Hidden Costs

Wits University social scientist and researcher Fikile Masikane exposes harsh realities behind promises of entrepreneurial freedom for food delivery drivers in South Africa.

POD: Future in the Humanities EP 3/3 - The Gig Economy's Hidden Costs
Photo by Zhuo Cheng you / Unsplash

Welcome to the third and final installment of the Future in the Humanities podcast mini-series, exploring pivotal topics at the intersection of the humanities with neuroscience, social media and the gig economy—created in celebration of Wits University’s centenary.

Episode 3/3 - Slave Ride overview

In this thought-provoking finale, Wits social scientist and researcher Fikile Masikane lets listeners in on an eye-opening exploration of the complex realities facing gig workers in the Global South, with a particular focus on food courier riders in Africa.

Drawing from a study Masikane conducted with Edward Webster, host Andile Masuku wades into the challenges and contradictions of the gig economy. The episode examines how enticing promises of entrepreneurship and freedom often lead to harsher working conditions and increased precarity for those at the frontlines of this new economic paradigm.

Key Themes:

  • Expansion of e-hailing and e-delivery platforms in the Global South
  • Promises vs. realities of gig work entrepreneurship
  • Impact of profit-driven policies on driver conditions
  • Vulnerability of migrant and economically disadvantaged populations
  • Contrast between company narratives and worker experiences
  • Long-term implications of gig economy practices on labour rights and social equity

This episode challenges listeners to look beyond the glossy veneer of technological progress and consider the human cost of our on-demand culture. By amplifying the voices of those often overlooked in discussions about the future of work, it sparks crucial conversations about labour rights, social equity, and the ethical implications of our increasingly digitised economy.

Learn more:

To discover more ongoing research being conducted in the field of labour studies and inequality, visit the Wits Southern Centre for Inequality Studies.


Connect and engage on social:


Listen to the full series:


Production credits:

Produced by Andile Masuku and Iginio Gagliardone
Co-produced by Brendan "Spike" Ballantine
Written and hosted by Andile Masuku
Recording, editing, sound design and mixing by Brendan "Spike" Ballantine


Editorial Note: The Future in the Humanities podcast mini-series is made possible through support from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of the Witwatersrand. Views expressed by the host and contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of African Tech Roundup or the University of the Witwatersrand. All rights reserved by the University of the Witwatersrand.